Meeting with the professor of the Harvard Law School Mr. Roberto Mangabeira Unger
On December 10, 2012 within the framework of All-Ukrainian Week of Law, a meeting with a worldwide well-known philosopher, social theorist and politician, and Brazilian economist, professor of the Harvard Law School Mr. Roberto Mangabeira Unger was held at the Constitutional Court of Ukraine.
On behalf of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine the meeting was attended by Deputy Chairmen of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Mr. Yurii Baulin and Mr. Serhii Vynokurov. Among the participants also were present the Chairman of the Austrian-Russian Legal Society Dr. Leopold Specht and the Head of Country Office of the Sustainable Ukraine Foundation Mr. Natalia Sheiko.
During the conversation the Deputy Chairmen expressed their high respect to the outstanding achievements of one of the greatest contemporary intellectuals of the world. In particular, they noted that Professor Unger has instructed many of the world elite, including President of the USA Barack Obama, who took several courses with him.
Deputy Chairmen of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine also briefly informed the interlocutors on the legal grounds of activities, specific characteristics of constitutional proceedings, nature of Court decisions, emphasizing that those are mandatory for execution to all citizens, as well as leadership of State, bodies of state power and the Court itself. The Ukrainian constitutionalists also stressed that the legal positions stated in the Decisions of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine are fundamental for the adoption of its further decisions.
The dialogue also concerned topical issues for modern world, including the constitutional law issues. The parties vividly discussed the opportunities of bodies of constitutional jurisdiction to ensure social rights of citizens in terms of difficult economic conditions, taking into consideration the constitutional obligations on the one hand and the state budget deficit – on the other. Professor Unger noted that a number of modern constitutions based on the Weimar tradition provide a large catalogue of rights, but they do not provide effective mechanisms to implement them. Thus, the constitutional courts should seek the solutions to solve the contradictions between the guarantees enshrined in the Constitution and the real possibilities of the State to implement them. Finding such a solution at once seems to be impossible, though it can be realised step by step – gradual steps moving forward the constitutional thought.
In addition, Professor Unger expressed his vision on global issues of social-economic development in the coming decades, functions and prospects of legal education, and its impact on the development of politics and society.
In conclusion, the parties thanked ezch other for a fruitful dialogue. In his turn, Professor Unger wished to continue maintaining relations with the Constitutional Court of Ukraine.
